Briefing to D.C. Legislators

On April 9, 2008, Xerces Society staff worked with Senators Barbara Boxer, Robert Casey and Susan Collins to organize a briefing to the Legislature:

Pollinators and Agricultural Security: An Update on Research, Conservation and Legislative Opportunities

In the fall of 2006 the National Research Council published the report “Status of Pollinators in North America” which highlighted troubling declines in managed and native pollinators and a serious void in our scientific understanding of their populations. Around that same time, a devastating phenomenon termed Colony Collapse Disorder emerged, wiping out an estimated ¼ of managed U.S. honeybee colonies. Given the vital role that pollinators play in the production of most fruit, vegetable, animal feed, and seed crops, their continued decline will have a significant impact on our agricultural, economic, and natural systems.

A panel of expert stakeholders discussed pollinators and agricultural security. Scientists, researchers, beekeepers, conservationists and farmers discussed their work, the far reaching implications of continued declines in pollinator populations, and what we can do now to avert a potential crisis.

Panelists:

May R. Berenbaum, Chair, National Academy of Sciences Committee on the Status of North American Pollinators

Jeff Pettis, Research Leader, USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratories

Zac Browning, President, American Beekeeping Federation

Richard Adee, Board Member, American Honey Producers Association

Doug Holy, National Invasive Species Specialist, Natural Resources Conservation Service